Articles by Rick Laezman

Earlier this summer, as its session drew to a close, the Oregon State Legislature passed a bevy of bills to boost the state’s renewable energy market. Two days before the end of session, the legislature passed HB 3201, which expanded Oregon’s existing Business Energy Tax Credit (BETC). READ MORE

The Massachusetts electricity provider NSTAR—which transmits and delivers electricity to more than 1 million electric customers in 81 communities in eastern and central Massachusetts—recently switched on a large underground transmission line, which the company hopes will ease congestion and help keep costs down for customers. READ MORE

With help from the federal renewable energy tax credit, as well as state regulations favoring the industry, wind power continues to set new records for installed capacity. According to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), 2007 could be the industry’s biggest year so far in terms of new installations. READ MORE

As high-speed access becomes the hookup of choice, broadband subscriber growth has taken off.
According to the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based market research firm, In-Stat, approximately 65 million new broadband subscribers signed up for high-speed access to the Internet over the 12-month period ending on May 30. READ MORE

After years of struggling to become cost competitive in mainstream markets, solar power may finally have its day.
According to a new assessment by the Washington, D.C.-based Worldwatch Institute and the Cambridge, Mass.-based Prometheus Institute, the solar industry is poised for a rapid decline in costs that will make it a mainstream power option in the next few years. READ MORE

The city of Philadelphia is steamrolling ahead toward its goal of becoming the nation’s first completely wireless major city. In May, Mayor John F. Street announced the approval of a 15-square-mile test zone for the city’s fledgling Muni Wi-Fi network. Consumers in the test area were allowed to start signing up for Internet access accounts shortly after the announcement was made. READ MORE